No matter how careful you think you are when it comes to who gets access
to your personal information, identity thieves utilize a
number of techniques to gain access to your most private
information. Increasingly, criminals are finding all the information they need
on state and local government Websites. In many cases criminals
find everything they need to hijack your life by simply perusing so-called
Public Records on
the county website.

That's right - the entire world
- meaning anyone, anywhere with computer access can easily find your name,
address, photos of your home, maiden names,
social security numbers,
credit and bank numbers in documents carelessly published online by
officials you elected to preserve and protect your data. Almost every
document the county holds on you contains information criminals can use.
Some documents , like divorce and probate, list complete inventories of
your home, assets, credit cards, who got what in the divorce and
where the kids are going this weekend - all courtesy of your local land
registry. But you are not as helpless as some would have you believe.
Legislators, attorneys and security services are beginning to offer
effective laws and strategies that put your identity out of reach of
international criminals.

Thieves would
rather steal your reputation than what is in your wallet.
Data that is easily mined from county Web sites is routinely bought and sold by individuals and organized
crime through Internet chat rooms, electronic-payment systems and online
casinos. The data can pop up anywhere ó from Russia, where credit card
numbers are ripe for the picking on Web sites, to the Middle East, where
terrorist groups finance operations through ID theft, and major cities in
the United States, where street gangs do the same. Within minutes of a
criminals gaining access to your private information, he can sell it
dozens, even hundreds of times or keep it for years as a commodity to be
exploited when you least expect it.

The Need to Protect Your Good
Name

It is evident there is a need to protect individuals regarding identity
theft and fraud. A slew of credit monitoring and protection products
promise to notify the subscriber when there has been a change in their
credit score or when there appears to be suspicious activity with one of
their accounts. The majority of these services are reselling credit
monitoring services, which provide no preventative features. Currently, there are over 70 identity theft services
offered on the market and the number is growing. But credit monitoring does nothing to repair the damage
caused by
identity theft and like most identity theft services goes into effect only after
an individualís identity has been compromised and is available on the
black market.

According to a recent independent study by
Javelin Research, "The types of credit monitoring services offered by
various creditors and the credit scoreing agencies -simply don't work.
Their services are designed to raise profits for the credit industry and
have very little effectiveness, if any, in guarding our identities."

One identity theft prevention company has taken a proactive approach by
acting before the thieves can use the stolen data. LifeLock does this by
placing fraud alerts on all your accounts thus rendering the stolen data
useless to anyone except you.

The system works by only allowing the consumer who has placed the
alerts the authority to utilize his or her own credit. The alerts ensure
that if anyone tries to do anything with your credit score, such as get
new credit, change your address, expand credit lines, open a checking
account, get insurance, utilities, or anything else, the financial
institution must call you directly for your approval before anything
happens.

As far as can be determined,
LifeLock is the only data security company to take this common sense
approach. Todd Davis, the company's CEO is so confident the system
works that he publishes his own Social Security number on the company
website and in television advertisements. To learn why he is so confident
about the LifeLock system Click here .

Holding Breech-Prone Government Web Sites Accountable

According to U.S. government statistics, you are 26 times more likely to be a victim of ID Theft than a violent
crime. 10 million Americans will become victims of identity theft this
year.
Clearly, if a government agency or business entity fails to protect your
information or is somehow party to the breach that revealed information
they had filed on you, there is a definite liability question whether it
be a institution, an employer, a credit bureau or the government. Even if
an employee or contractor committed an illegal act and revealed your data,
there may still be a liability issue for the employer of that person or
their services.

Just last month, Police in Worthington Ohio reported that hundreds of
people in five states were the latest victims of identity theft that
resulted from county officials publishing sensitive information over the
Internet.
In several cases to date, private institutions and government agencies that hold and distribute
this data have been found liable for the inappropriate or illegal
release of private information and data, and the havoc it may wreak on identity theft victims and their families. Last year, a Virginia woman whose
Social Security number was stolen by a temporary employee at a hospital
where the ID theft victim gave birth won $351,000 in damages after
a trial.

On the other hand, if someone stole the information from your trash or you
somehow failed to protect your critical personal data like credit card or
bank account information, family history or you gave a password away to an
acquaintance who then defrauded you, the liability of the institutions or
businesses involved may be greatly lessened. You are expected to protect
your personal information as well.

Am I Qualified to Complain?
Yes! If a government agency, corporation or individual has exposed
you to the threat of identity theft you may be due compensation. Recent court cases have shown that
when your information is exposed
due to the negligence, error or willful act of an institution, government
agency, business, or employer who maintains such critical records -or
through the actions of an employee/contractor for the institution,
business or government agency - you may be due compensation.
Click here for legal help and a free evaluation of your possible caseThe
service is FREE and CONFIDENTIAL. Your case will
be reviewed by top attorneys specifically interested in matters pertaining
to personal Identity Theft.
Find out how to
clear your good name and possibly receive compensation.